Teams are either successful—or they fail. And often, the team members can’t give specific reasons for either outcome. When teams fail, they often dissolve into cliques riddled with blame or confusion. You see it everywhere: The offensive line blames the quarterback for a late throw; the quarterback points to the wide receiver who bobbled the…

No matter what industry you work in, there are certain fundamental principles that hold true if you want to excel as an entrepreneur. As the CEO of a global entrepreneurship training organization and direct selling company, and a lifelong entrepreneur and enthusiastic networker, I know the pitfalls that can prevent even the most committed businesspeople…

(This article is adapted from an article by Amanda Zantal-Wiener that appeared on Hubspot.) Active listening, also called Reflective Listening, benefits both parties in a conversation. It helps to insure that the speaker is actually being heard. But it also is good for the listener, as it allows you to put distractions and preemptive judgments…

Let’s face it: irrespective of how “brilliant” any brain surgeon is or perceives him or herself to be – and regardless of how many awards or industry accolades this same surgeon has accumulated over the years – should this celebrated surgeon be diagnosed with a brain tumor, it would still take the expertise of another…

Education can mean different things to different people. First, there’s formal education which involves attending classes at established learning institutions. Second, there’s informal education which involves self-directed or mentor-directed education in a more informal setting. Both are important, but in the field of leadership, only one is essential. One of my early mentors taught me, “It’s easier to teach…

Managers are typically promoted into leadership roles with the thought that their effectiveness will continue; but rather than assume, senior leaders are wise to put into place a two-pronged approach to succession. The first prong is to pick the right candidate. The old cliché applies: “Hire for attitude and train for ability.” The second prong…

A major driver of being influential is practice. If you have ever played a sport, musical instrument, or any similar pursuit that takes muscle memory, you know that improvement never occurs without practice. For example, let’s say you have been playing golf for 10+ years and you’re tired of your family and friends telling you…

A major concern for top achievers in network marketing—or any team leader for that matter—is “bench strength”—that is, the quantity and quality of up-and-coming, potential leaders who are in the pipeline. Too often, these would-be leaders “hold back, shrink, and play small” instead of showing up and stepping up, and increasing their leadership impact. Everyone knows…

At the risk of placing substance over style, all leaders must understand this simple truth: style does matter. It’s not about matching your belt to your shoes, or accessorizing appropriately for the occasion, but rather understanding the way you go about leading. Allen rose through the ranks of the military with great ease and retired young with…

Business and dancing appear to be on opposite sides of the spectrum. Business is considered predominantly professional and strategic, while dance is typically viewed as physical and artsy. But these seemingly conflicting worlds are more in sync than we realize. I’ve discovered surprising parallels between the boardroom and the ballroom. I’ve found that techniques of…